After Knox endured some recent struggles, averaging just 7.2 points and shooting 25.5 percent in a five-game stretch stretch, coach David Fizdale said Knox had hit a rookie wall.

But he bounced back nicely Monday in Charlotte, scoring 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three.

While Knox's numbers don't necessarily jump off the page, he had a case to be made for being on the U.S. team.

He still could, though, as an injury replacement since Lonzo Ball is injured.

2. Knicks own worst record in NBA

It became official Tuesday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards.

What does it mean?

Honestly, not a whole lot.

The bottom three teams each have a 14 percent chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick, a product of the NBA's new lottery rules to dissuade teams from tanking.

The team with the worst record, which right now is the Knicks, has a 13.4 percent chance at the second pick, a 12.7 percent chance at the third, a 12.0 percent chance at the fourth and a 47.9 percent chance at falling to No. 5.

So their chances of landing Duke's Zion Williamson didn't improve. The only thing that changed was that they can only fall to the fifth pick, instead of the sixth.

3. Luka Doncic is on a tear

Doncic, the Mavericks' star rookie, was a lock for the Rising Stars Challenge and it became official when he was named to the World Team.

The 19-year-old is averaging 20.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range.

With Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina both sidelined with injuries, the Knicks recalled two-way player Kadeem Allen from Westchester for Monday's game against the Charlotte Hornets, and he turned out to be one of the few bright spots.

Allen finished with eight points, five rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes off the bench.

Not a bad debut.

He's likely earned himself some significant playing time Wednesday night.